Gas burner

ABSTRACT

A thin flat vane is disposed diametrically across the throat or air-gas passageway of the burner. The vane is mounted for rotation about its axis for movement of the flat side surfaces of the vane from a position parallel to the air-gas flow, in which it creates substantially no turbulence in the flow, to a position transversely of the flow in which it creates maximum turbulence therein. Increase in turbulence effects reduction of the volume of air in the mixture.

United States Patent Inventors Donald R. Smith Diamond Bar; Adrian V. Cavestany, Pasadena, Calif. Appl. No. 857,973 Filed Sept. 15, 1969 Patented May 25, 1971 Assignee Carrier Corporation Syracuse, N.Y.

GAS BURNER 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 239/432, 239/4195, 239/513, 239/590 Int. Cl B05b 7/06 Field of Search 239/590,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,236,791 4/1941 Forsberg 239/505X 2,336,453 12/1943 Berrington 239/390X 3,136,488 6/1964 Petlak et a1. 239/513X Primary ExaminerLloyd L. King Attorneys-Harry 6. Martin, J r. and Raymond Curtin ABSTRACT: A thin flat vane is disposed diametrically across the throat or air-gas passageway of the burner. The vane is mounted for rotation about its axis for movement of the flat side surfaces of the vane from a position parallel to the air-gas flow, in which it creates substantially no turbulence in the flow, to a position transversely of the flow in which it creates maximum turbulence therein. Increase in turbulence effects reduction of the volume of air in the mixture.

Patented May 25, 1971 INVENTORS. DONALD R. SMITH. ADRIAN V. CAVESTANY.

ATTORNEY.

GAS BURNER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known that to obtain the optimum of combustion in burners operating with air-gas fuel mixtures, it is necessary to provide the proper air-gas ratio. In atmospheric-type gas burners, in which the air is induced into the mixing tube by the gas flow, it is conventional to adjust the air-gas ratio by providing some means for varying the size of the air inlet opening, as by an adjustable damper member. Such damper structures add to the cost of the burner and generally are not convenient to adjust and to fix in adjusted position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A vane member is mounted in the airgas passageway of the burner and is disposed diametrically thereof. The vane consists of a relatively narrow, thin, flat, sheet metal stamping and is mounted for rotation about its axis. As the flat side surfaces of the vane are moved from a position parallel to the air-gas flow, the vane serves to create turbulence in the flow, reducing the induction of air into the passageway. Maximum turbulence occurs when the flat sides of the vane extend transversely of the flow. The vane is rotatably adjustable exteriorly of the passageway and means is provided to fix the vane in adjusted position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the intake end of a burner embodying our invention;

FIG. 2 is a lengthwise sectional view taken on line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line III-Ill of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the vane rotated 90 from that shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3; and

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the air-gas ratio adjusting vane.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT designates the end portion of an elongated burner body attached to the gas supply manifold 1 l. The burner body is of hollow form providing an air-gas passageway 12 into which gas is directed from the manifold 11 through an orifice 13. The open end of the burner is formed with one or more primary air intake openings located adjacent the manifold 11, through which primary air is induced into the passageway 12 by the flow of gas from the orifice 13.

A gas-air ratio adjusting vane 17 is mounted in the burner body a short distance downstream from the orifice 13 and inlet opening 15. The vane 17 consists of a thin, flat strip of rigid material, such assheet metal, disposed diametrically in the passageway 12. In the drawings, the vane is shown as being disposed vertically in the burner body, and the passageway 12 is of circular or other smooth cross-sectional form. The vane is joumaled at its ends in the sidewalls of the passageway 12. To the end of economy in manufacture and convenience of assembly, an aperture 20 is formed in the upper side of the airgas passageway, and the lower side is formed with a bulge or protuberance 21 located diametrically opposite the aperture 20. The protuberance 21 is in the form of a concavity of hemispherical shape, dimensioned to receive the rounded end 22 of vane 17 forming a bearing for the same. The upper end of the vane is joumaled in the aperture 20, and the lower end in the protuberance 21.

In FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the vane is arranged with its flat sides extending parallel to the flow of the airgas mixture. In this position, the vane produces substantially no turbulence in the air-gas flow. However, as the vane is rotated about its axis to move the flat sides toward a position transversely of the passageway, as shown in FIG. 4, the vane serves to produce turbulence in the air-gas flow, the maximum turbulence being produced when the vane is positioned as shown in FIG. 4.

Also for economy in production, the vane is preferably in the form of a one-piece sheet metal stamping formed at its upper end with a bent over quadrant portion 30 extending over the upper side of the burner body. The quadrant 30 is formed with an arcuate slot 31, extending concentrically with the axis of the vane, for the reception of a screw 33 threaded into the top wall of passageway 12. One side of the quadrant portion 30 is formed with an upwardly bent ear 35, which serves as a handle for conveniently rotating the vane. The screw 33, when tightened, serves to maintain the vane in adjusted position and clamp it fixedly to the burner body. Preferably, the vane 17 is of such length that when screw 33 is tightened, the end 22 of the vane is pressing against the protuberance 21 to prevent any vibration of the thin blade during operation of the burner, especially when the vane is positioned transversely of the passageway, as shown in FIG. 4.

In assembling, the vane is simply inserted through the opening 20 with the lower end of the vane positioned in the protuberance 21. The clamp screw 33 is then inserted in slot 31 and threaded into the top wall of the passageway. Viewed edgewise, as in FIG. 3, the vane is noticeably thin, being in the order of one thirty-second to one-sixteenth of an inch in thickness. The tenuity of the vane does not create any perceptible turbulence in the air-gas flow. The width of the flat side surfaces of the vane are relatively narrow compared to the cross-sectional dimension of the passageway, being in the order of one-eighth to three-sixteenths of the width of the passageway. Preferably, the vane 17 is of uniform cross-sectional dimension throughout its length.

Despite the relatively small area of the vane side surfaces, when disposed transversely to the air-gas flow, the vane creates turbulence sufficient to provide substantial impedance to the movement of air through the burner air inlet 15. Ac cordingly, the vane provides a convenient and effective adjustment in the air-gas ratio to establish good combustion over a wide range of adjustments.

We claim:

1. An atmospheric gas burner having a substantially smooth wall shape providing a smooth primary air-gas passageway, the primary air being induced into the passageway through a primary air inlet by the discharge of gas axially into the passageway, an air-gas ratio adjusting vane mounted in said passageway and extending diametrically thereof, said vane comprising a thin flat strip of rigid material and having a side width substantially greater than the thickness of the vane, the transverse side surfaces of said vane having an area substantially less than area of said passageway, said vane being mounted for rotation about its axis to move the side surfaces of the vane between a position parallel to the air-gas flow wherein it provides a negligible effect on turbulence in said air-gas passageway and a position transversely thereof wherein it present said side surface to the air-gas mixture passing through the air-gas passageway and creates substantial turbulence therein.

2. An atmospheric gas burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vane is of rectangular form in cross section.

3. An atmospheric gas burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vane is uniform in cross section throughout its length.

4. An atmospheric gas burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vane is imperforate.

5. An atmospheric gas burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sidewall of said passageway is formed with an outwardly extending protuberance of hemispherical form and an aperture diametrically opposite said protuberance, said vane having an end portion contoured complementary to said protuberance for rotation therein, the opposite end of said vane being joumaled in said aperture and having a portion extendingextemally of said passageway and means cooperable with said extending from said orifice, said orifice discharging a stream of gas axially through said gas passageway, said body being also formed with a primary air inlet opening adjacent said manifold, for the induction of primary air into said passageway by the discharge of gas from said orifice, an air-gas ratio adjusting vane mounted in said passageway in downstream spaced relation to said orifice and said air inlet opening and extending diametrically of the passageway, said vane being in the form of a thin flat strip of rigid material having a flat side of substantially greater width than the thickness of the vane, the flat side surfaces of said vane being relatively narrow in relation to the cross-sectional dimension of said passageway, said vane being rotatable about its axis for movement of said flat side surfaces from a first position parallel to the air-gas flow providing a negligible effect on turbulence thereof to a second position transversely thereof, said vane being effective upon rotation toward said second position to create substantial turbulence in said air-gas flow, said body being formed with an aperture in the sidewall of said passageway and with an outwardly extending protuberance located diametrically opposite said aperture, one end of said vane being rotatably positioned in said aperture and. extending outwardly therefrom, the opposite end of said vane being contoured complementarily to said protuberance for rotation therein, the extending end of said vane having a laterally extending portion overlying said body and being formed with an arcuate slot extending concentric with the axis of said vane, a screw extending through said slot and threaded into said body and serving, when tightened, to frictionally clamp said vane in adjusted position. 

1. An atmospheric gas burner having a substantially smooth wall shape providing a smooth primary air-gas passageway, the primary air being induced into the passageway through a primary air inlet by the discharge of gas axially into the passageway, an air-gas ratio adjusting vane mounted in said passageway and extending diametrically thereof, said vane comprising a thin flat strip of rigid material and having a side width substantially greater than the thickness of the vane, the transverse side surfaces of said vane having an area substantially less than area of said passageway, said vane being mounted for rotation about its axis to move the side surfaces of the vane between a position parallel to the air-gas flow wherein it provides a negligible effect on turbulence in said air-gas passageway and a position transversely thereof wherein it present said side surface to the air-gas mixture passing through the air-gas passageway and creates substantial turbulence therein.
 2. An atmospheric gas burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vane is of rectangular form in cross section.
 3. An atmospHeric gas burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vane is uniform in cross section throughout its length.
 4. An atmospheric gas burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vane is imperforate.
 5. An atmospheric gas burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sidewall of said passageway is formed with an outwardly extending protuberance of hemispherical form and an aperture diametrically opposite said protuberance, said vane having an end portion contoured complementary to said protuberance for rotation therein, the opposite end of said vane being journaled in said aperture and having a portion extending externally of said passageway and means cooperable with said extending portion for clamping the vane to said passageway.
 6. An atmospheric gas burner comprising an elongated hollow body disposed radially from a gas supply manifold, said manifold being provided with an orifice, said body having a substantially smooth sided wall forming an air-gas passageway extending from said orifice, said orifice discharging a stream of gas axially through said gas passageway, said body being also formed with a primary air inlet opening adjacent said manifold, for the induction of primary air into said passageway by the discharge of gas from said orifice, an air-gas ratio adjusting vane mounted in said passageway in downstream spaced relation to said orifice and said air inlet opening and extending diametrically of the passageway, said vane being in the form of a thin flat strip of rigid material having a flat side of substantially greater width than the thickness of the vane, the flat side surfaces of said vane being relatively narrow in relation to the cross-sectional dimension of said passageway, said vane being rotatable about its axis for movement of said flat side surfaces from a first position parallel to the air-gas flow providing a negligible effect on turbulence thereof to a second position transversely thereof, said vane being effective upon rotation toward said second position to create substantial turbulence in said air-gas flow, said body being formed with an aperture in the sidewall of said passageway and with an outwardly extending protuberance located diametrically opposite said aperture, one end of said vane being rotatably positioned in said aperture and extending outwardly therefrom, the opposite end of said vane being contoured complementarily to said protuberance for rotation therein, the extending end of said vane having a laterally extending portion overlying said body and being formed with an arcuate slot extending concentric with the axis of said vane, a screw extending through said slot and threaded into said body and serving, when tightened, to frictionally clamp said vane in adjusted position. 